Category: Stories

We recently reached a major milestone in Nigeria as Dr. Adaora Nwodo became the first female surgeon to receive training in hydrocele operations for lymphatic filariasis through the country’s neglected tropical diseases program. This training was supported by the Reaching the Last Mile Fund.

In an interview, Dr. Nwodo spoke about the “life-changing” impact that the RLMF program has on patients affected by lymphatic filariasis. She also shared her experience working in a male-dominated field and her advice for young women following in her footsteps. 

Meet Kadija (16) and Hajara (17), two determined girls changing lives in their Kano community. 
As community-directed distributors for the Reaching The Last Mile Fund, implemented through Sightsavers International, they walk for hours under the sun, distributing medicine, educating families, and reaching even the most remote homes.

“We don’t do it for the money,” Hajara says. “We do it because our people need us.”
Together, they’ve helped protect hundreds from diseases like river blindness and lymphatic filariasis. However, their dream extends beyond medicine distribution: They aspire to become medical doctors.
“One day,” Kadija says, “we want to be the ones our community calls when there is a health emergency.” 
They may be young, but their steps are bold. Their journey is just beginning, and it’s filled with hope, service, and a dream to heal even more.